Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-03
OLASPED BY A BEAR.
Exciting Midnight Encounter Related by a
Railroad Agent.

Exciting Midnight Encounter Related by a
Railroad Agent.
mar who Is well thought of by the
railway fraternity is Hoyt Sherman,
general agent of the Union Pacific at
Salt Lake, who arrived from that
place yesterday, says the San Francisco
Examiner. He was first brought into
prominence by an adventure which he
had on the road from Beaver canyon
INTO the Yellowstone national PARK.
Mr.. Sherman was a tourist agent for
the road, and when q BIG party went
up 10 the park he would accompany
them. The distance from Beaver can
you is 1875 miles. and three years ago,
when he had the adventure, the road
vas very primitive. Rough and rocky,
it wound its way through deep canyons,
whose wall rose to magnificent heights.
making the scenery awful and grand.
and then over fertile plains, through
mountainous country into timbered
regions that could not be excelled.
There was something about this drive
that thrilled and delighted passengers
and made them want to cover the dis
tance again. But AS pleasant rs they
were they were not free from danger.
1t lurked everywhere. In the assures
OF the rocks were skulking mountain
lions watching the passing of the stage
coach with cleaning eyes, While
panthers, more cowardly yet fully as
dangerous, perched in trees that over
hung the road on which the stage
travelled, would give their fierce cry
and perchance leap upon its top to lind
that It's occupants were beyond reach.
Then the silver-tipped bear and big
black bruin, on his stately round for
meat, would cautiously pass that way.
Sometimes ut night the tourists would
camp for u change.
1t was n night that they did this
that Mr.. Sherman had his adventure
one that is not new to him now. They
camped in a clump of timber below the
mountains and curraled the horses Il
few rods off. 1t was about midnight
when MIR. Sherman was awakened by
the neighing Of Il horse. He got up to
re~connoiter and saw a black object pass
neal the corral. The moon was ont in
all her %splendor, though the trees
Swallowed the earth. Thinking that the
object was n man and that he meant TO
steal the horses, he took his pistol from
his pocket and noticing that his clasp
knife was al right ho cautiously ad-
,anced. He was looking about to see
where the big black object had gone.
when, as though it had risen from the
ground, q big black bear stood in front
of him.
FIRST he thought TO run. but this
would be death. for one stroke from
its powerful paw would lay him low.
The pistol was u small one, but he
raised il after his frs, surprise was
over m pulled the trigger. 1t did not
90 off. tie just remembered that he
had neglected to reload the weapon
that evening afterI discharsing all the
cartridges. When the trigger snapped
the bear looked at the pistol ~curiously
and then at Sherman. The latter took
his knife out and slowly backed up I'M
til he was protected by II tree. The
bear followed and carressing|y began
to hug him. its hot breath was upon
his face and he grew faint. He rallied
and drove the knife to the Hit into
bruin, who, now fully eBraged, rolled
Sherman on the ground. Now it was
fight or die. Another plunge and the
sharp edge OF the steel went blowing
up the bear, fairly disemboweling him.
The struggle 20 ended. and though
Sherman was the victor he was not al
together unframed. The touri its heard
the noise and were in time to witness
the end OF the battle. For a week after
three Eng!ishnren did nothing but curse
their i'll luck at not being the man the
bear attacked.